Our soaring arms deals in the region include £15million in sales over the past five years to embattled Libya, large parts of which are already controlled by the vicious terror group.

Anti-arms trade campaigners say our ability to stop the weapons falling into the wrong hands once they are sold to Arab and African governments is failing as the jihadi network spreads.

Arms deals with foreign buyers – brokered by civil servants and approved by the Government – have created a deadly business that means nearly two-thirds of UK weapons exports go to the battled-scarred Middle East, critics say.

Fighter jets, assault rifles, bombs, bullets and night-vision goggles are being sold to despots and dictators at an increasing rate, they warn, despite acute ­instability in the region.

Britain’s annual £8.5billion weapons exports include bomb-making equipment sold to Libya that could fall into the hands of ISIS. There are fears the terror network could overrun the North African nation next year.

Other countries in the region buying British arms may be controversial for other reasons.

Campaigners argue that Israel has used many Western weapons against ­Palestinians. And Turkey is engaged in conflict with Iraqi and Syrian Kurds, who we have treated as allies.

In Muslim North Africa there are similar human rights worries.

Algeria’s £278million worth of weaponry from the UK includes night sights for snipers and components for guns.

Fears: Even more of the weapons will be used by militants (Image: Reuters)

But our biggest trade is with Saudi Arabia, which spent £3.9billion on arms during the Tory-led government between 2010 and 2015.